Mera Laureys, Pinal County Pet Rescue (left), accepts a quilt donated for auction from Ann Bershaw.
Sheri Nockels
The SaddleBrooke Friday Quilters have been using their talents for the greater good. Ann Bershaw, our Service Committee chairperson, and committee members Linda Eisenhart, Sue Braun, Gayle Strack, and Nancy Doering have done an amazing job identifying charities, working with them to determine needs, and conveying that to our club for action! At the beginning of the year, our club voted on which charities to routinely support. We selected IMPACT of Arizona, Hayden Senior Center, Youth On Their Own, Pinal County Pet Rescue, and Arizona Oncology. Threads of Hope, described below, received a one-time donation.
IMPACT of Arizona supports new mothers, adults in need, and Meals on Wheels. Mothers received a baby basket we helped fill with homemade items such as flannel burp clothes (55), flannel washcloths (76), flannel baby blankets (21), baby bibs (10), and stuffed animals. We provided 41 quilts, clothing protectors and walker tote bags for the adults, glasses cases, and more! Meals on Wheels recipients received placemats and trivets.
We also supported the Hayden Senior Center in Hayden, Ariz., a nonprofit for the aging. With the hard work of the few employees and the efforts of many volunteers, seniors have access to a variety of fitness classes, nutritious lunches, and multiple activity groups to promote cognitive health and socialization. We provided 14 quilts, 16 walker tote bags, 31 adult clothing protectors, placemats, hot pads, and other miscellaneous items to the Center.
Youth On Their Own supports high school students who are experiencing homelessness. It provides financial assistance, basic human needs, and guidance to stay in school and graduate. Our quilters made 24 pillowcases and stuffed them with a fleece blanket to be distributed as needed to local youth.
As a quilting group, we try not to waste anything! Consequently, we end up with lots of fabric scraps, which we use to stuff dog beds. So far this year, we‘ve donated 115 dog beds to the Pinal County Pet Rescue. We also donated a gorgeous quilt for them to use as a fundraiser for their organization.
We also donated to Threads of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides an avenue for Afghan women to sell their handmade projects in the U.S. After a heartfelt presentation about Threads of Hope, our club donated $300 for 85 foot-powered sewing machines (foot-powered because they either have no or extremely limited electricity).
Although we’re well into the second half of the year, we aren’t slowing down! We’ll soon deliver 18 lap quilts for patients to use while undergoing chemo treatments. We’re also making 20 chemo caps to provide warmth and a stylish flair to those experiencing chemo side effects. It’s been a busy year so far for the SaddleBrooke Friday Quilters!